Tobacco-stripper.



Patented July 18,1911.

UM-IA PLANOGRAII! C0" WASHINGTON, D. C-

WILLIAM F. GANZER, 0F OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

TOBACCO-STRIPPER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Application filed April 8, 1910, Serial No. 554,190. Renewed April 6, 1911. Serial No. 619,402.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Gimznn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certa1n new and useful Improvements in Tobacco- Strippers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tobacco strippers, and the object is to pro vide a stripper which will do cleaner work, with the use of which one person can do the work of several, and with a minimum of waste, its construction being such that it strips the leaf clear from the stem.

A further object is to provide a stripper which may be mounted at any convenient place on the side of a bench, table, box, window or door-frame, or post, and when not in use be dropped down out of the way.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing the stripper mounted for use, the dotted lines illustrating the position taken when not in use, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the end of the stripper from the opposite side, showing the removable cutter, Fig. 3 is a view of one of the leaves after the end has been notched by the cutter, and Fig. 4 is a view showing how the leaf is held by the operator in stripping the leaf from the stem.

A, represents a bracket, it having several countersunk holes 1, 1, therein, to receive screws whereby it is fastened in an upright position upon the side or end of a table, bench, box, or other support. Projecting from the side of the bracket is a threaded pin 2, and a headed stud 3, both of which are rigidly secured to the outer face of the bracket, they affording support for the stripper.

B, indicates the arm of the stripper. This is preferably made in the general shape and design illustrated, and comprise the shank l, the intermediate part 5, and the knife-support 6. The shank 4 is provided with an elongated slot 7 adapted to receive the threaded pin 2, and an open slot 8 is formed at the extreme end of the shank to receive and embrace the headed stud 3. The open slot divides the end of the shank into two jaws, the lower of which is shorter than the upper, its lengthbeing such that it just clears the stud when the stripper arm is extended as far outward as it will go, whereby to let the headed stud into the open slot, after which the arm is pushed back endwise the length of the closed slot, whereupon the hand nut 9 is turned on the threads of the pin, forcing the washer 10 against the shank, and affording a rigid look to hold the arm when adjusted to its horizontal operative position. The only function of the longer jaw at the end of the shank is to form a stop at that point to engage the headed stud and limit the upward movement of the arm.

The knife support, which preferably extends downwardly a trifle, as shown, and a cutter 11 having a sharp, rounded upper edge is removably secured thereto by means of screws 12, 12, so that it may be detached at any time to be sharpened, or renewed, as this part of the stripper is made of steel, and must be kept very sharp. The intermediate part 5 is relatively long, and is tapering or wedge-shaped in cross-section, with a dull, oval-shaped or curved lower edge, which lower edge is utilized for stripping the stem from the tobacco leaf.

In the use of the stripper, it is needless to say that the bracket is secured to its support, and the arm is raised to a horizontal position and slid inwardly as far as the slots will admit on the pin and stud, after which, the hand wheel is turned to the right to secure the arm rigidly in this position. The operator then cuts a V-shaped notch at the apex of the leaves, as illustrated in Fig. 3, by cutting on either side'of the stem. The stem is then stripped from the leaf by taking a book, or plurality of leaves, with the notch upward, between the thumb and forefinger of each hand, whereupon the operator draws the book toward him at first,

and then from him and upward, thereby splitting the leaves in twain, and then by a repetition of this part ofthe operation, in the same fashion he strips the stem from the part of the leaf on which it was left by the first stripping operation. In this way, a clean job is performed without waste of material or time, it being comparatively easy to acquire the necessary skill to strip the leaf from the stem. When not in use, the arm is lowered by turning the hand wheel to the left, and drawing it out, and dropping it to its vertical position.

It is evident that more or less slight changes might be made inthe form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, but

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tobacco stripper comprising an arm, a portion of which is made in the form of a wedge, and having a knife extending upwardly on its outer end.

2. A stripper comprising an arm, a portion of which is in the form of a downwardly extending wedge which is employed to sever the leaf from the stem, and having a knife holder at one point, and a knife removably secured to said holder.

3. A tobacco stripper comprising a supporting bracket, an arm adjustably connected therewith, said arm comprising a shank, a wedge, and a knife holder, and a knife removably secured to said holder.

4. In a tobacco stripper, the combination with a bracket having a threaded pin and a stud thereon, of an arm, a portion of which is in the form of a stripper, the shank of the arm having two elongated slots, one open and the other closed, the closed slot adapted to receive the threaded pin, and the open slot the stud, and a hand wheel or nut adapted to turn on the threads of the pin, to lock the arm in its adjusted position.

5. In a tobacco stripper, the combination with a bracket having a stud thereon, of an arm pivotally and slidably connected with the bracket, the shank of said arm having an open longitudinal slot at one end which divides it into two jaws of unequal length, one adapted to form a stop to limit the movement of the arm in one direction, and the other of a length to clear the stud when the arm is lowered from its operative position.

In testimony whereof I aiIiX my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM F. GANZER. \Vitnesses EMMA STURTEVANT, CHAS. OELLERICI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

